_Allex, Jake, Corporal_, Co. H, 131st Infantry, 33rd Division,
Chicago.—At Chipilly Ridge, France, Aug. 9, 1918. At a critical point
in the action, when all the officers with his platoon had become
casualties, Corporal Allex took command of the platoon and led it
forward until the advance was stopped by fire from a machine-gun nest.
He then advanced alone for about thirty yards in the face of intense
fire and attacked the nest. With his bayonet he killed five of the
enemy, and when it was broken used the butt end of his rifle, capturing
fifteen prisoners.
* * * * *
_Anderson, Johannes S., Sergeant_, Co. B, 132d Infantry, 33rd Division,
Chicago, Ill.—Consenvoye, France, Oct. 8, 1918. While his company was
being held up by intense artillery and machine-gun fire, Sergeant
Anderson, without aid, voluntarily left the company and worked his way
to the rear of the nest that was offering the most stubborn resistance.
His advance was made through an open area and under constant hostile
fire; but the mission was successfully accomplished, and he not only
silenced the gun and captured it, but also brought back with him
twenty-three prisoners.
* * * * *
_Gumpertz, Sydney G., First Sergeant_, Co. E, 132nd Infantry, 33rd
Division, New York City.—Bois de Forges, France, Sept. 26, 1918. When
the advancing line was held up by machine-gun fire, Sergeant Gumpertz
left the platoon of which he was in command, and started with two
other soldiers through a heavy barrage toward the machine-gun nest.
His two companions soon became casualties from bursting shell, but
Sergeant Gumpertz continued on alone in the face of direct fire from
the machine gun, jumped into the nest and silenced the gun, capturing
nine of the crew.
* * * * *
_Hill, Ralyn, Corporal_, Co. H, 129th Infantry, 33rd Division, Oregon,
Ill.—Dannevoux, France, Oct. 7, 1918. Seeing a French aeroplane fall
out of control on the enemy side of the Meuse River with its pilot
injured, Corporal Hill voluntarily dashed across the footbridge to the
side of the wounded man, and, taking him on his back, started back to
his lines. During the entire exploit he was subjected to murderous fire
of enemy machine guns and artillery, but he successfully accomplished
his mission and brought his man to a place of safety, a distance of
several hundred yards.
* * * * *
_Loman, Berger, Private_, Co. H, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division,
Chicago.—Consenvoye, France, Oct. 9, 1918. When his company had reached
a point within 100 yards of its objective, to which it was advancing
under terrific machine-gun fire, Private Loman, voluntarily and
unaided, made his way forward, after all others had taken shelter from
the direct fire of an enemy machine gun. He crawled to a flank position
of the gun, and, after killing or capturing the entire crew, turned the
machine gun on the retreating enemy.
* * * * *
_Mallon, George H., Captain_, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, Kansas
City, Mo.—Bois de Forges, France, Sept. 26, 1918. Becoming separated
from the balance of his company because of a fog, Captain Mallon, with
nine soldiers, pushed forward and attacked nine active hostile machine
guns, capturing all of them without the loss of a man. Continuing
on through the woods, he led his men in attacking a battery of four
155-millimeter howitzers, which were in action, rushing the position
and capturing the battery and its crew. In this encounter Captain
Mallon personally attacked one of the enemy with his fists. Later, when
the party came upon two more machine guns, this officer sent men to the
flanks while he rushed forward directly in the face of the fire and
silenced the guns, being the first one of the party to reach the nest.
The exceptional gallantry and determination displayed by Captain Mallon
resulted in the capture of 100 prisoners, eleven machine guns, four
155-millimeter howitzers, and one anti-aircraft gun.
* * * * *
_Pope, Thomas A., Corporal_, Co. E, 131st Infantry, 33rd Division,
Chicago.—Hamel, France, July 4, 1918. His company was advancing behind
the tanks when it was halted by hostile machine-gun fire. Going forward
alone, he rushed a machine-gun nest, killed several of the crew with
his bayonet, and, standing astride of his gun, held off the others
until reinforcements arrived and captured them.
* * * * *
_Sandlin, Willie, Private_, Co. A, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division,
Hayden, Ky.—Bois de Forges, France, Sept. 26, 1918. He showed
conspicuous gallantry in action by advancing alone directly on a
machine-gun nest which was holding up the line with its fire. He killed
the crew with a grenade and enabled the line to advance. Later in the
day he attacked alone and put out of action two other machine-gun
nests, setting a splendid example of bravery and coolness to his
comrades.